Hiking tour to Kazakhstan Altai.

"In true travel, you don't know where you're going. In true observation, you don't know what you're looking at."

La Tzu.

Short description of route of tour across lakes of East-Kazakhstan region:

Ust-Kamenogorsk – Bukhtarma reservoir – settlements Kurchum – Markakol – Markakol lake – Mramorny pass – Urunkhaika village – Altai pass – Burkhat pass – Altai-Burkhat road – Uryl – Berel villages – Yazevoye lake – Rakhmanovskoye lake – Bukhtarma lake – Ust-Kamenogorsk.

Distance of route: 1308 km.
Distance of an active part of tour: 58 km.
Season: June - September.
Best time for an tour: June, July, August.
Duration of tour: 11 days, 10 nights.

Detailed program of tour day by day from Ust-kamenogorsk to Bukhtarminskoe lake:

Observation excursion in Kazakhstan.

Day 1. Ust-Kamenogorsk - lake Markakol (460 km).

Transfer: Ust-Kamenogorsk - Bukhtarma bridge (188 km).
Arrival on the Bukhtarma bridge, short walk environs.
Further transfer: Bukhtarma bridge - settlement of Kurchum (34 km).
A lunch in the settlement of Kurchum.
Further transfer: settlements of Kurchum - Barack batyr - of Kalzhyr - of Markakol (former name Alekseevka, Terekty) (189 km).
Arrival in the settlement of Markakol, visit of shops. Short walk on the settlement, visit and survey of old brick buildings in the settlement, constructions the beginning of the XXth century.
Further transfer: the settlement of Markakol - mountains Derelbiigy - the pass Marble (21 km).
In the envirions of the settlement of Moildy there is a boundary post, here verification of documents and permits.
Further transfer on the pass Marble high 1317 m. a. s. l.
The stop on the pass from the pass opens a majestic panorama of vicinities. In the south, in the territory of China, barkhans and sands of the desert Akkum and Kyzyl-Kum which borders by the northern part on the territory of Kazakhstan are well visible. In the south the mountain Marble consisting of marble breeds high 1398,3 m. a. s. l. towers.
Transfer: the pass Marble - the anonymous pass high 1452,3 m. a. s. l. - settlement of Akzhalau - river Belezek - pass high 1804,6 m. a. s. l. Tikkabak - settlement of Urunkhayka (lake Markakol) of 1447 m. a. s. l. (37 km).
Arrival in the settlement of Urunkhayka, accommodation in the house local residents or in tents, a dinner and overnight.

Day 2. Lake Markakol (2 + 6 = 8 km).

Breakfast. Hiking an excursion in lake Markakol environs.
Climbing the mountain which is to the east from the settlement of Urunkhayka opens a magnificent panorama on the lake and surrounding mountains from here (1 + 1 = 2 km).
Let's make short walk on the ridge and we will go down to the southern part of the lake Markakol. Return to the settlement of Urunkhayka.
After a lunch walk on east coast of lake Markakol to a lodge of fishermen (3 + 3 = 6 km).
Dinner and overnight.

Day 3. Lake Markakol - Cold valley (5 + 5 = 10 km).

Breakfast. Walk to the Cold Valley (5 km).
The Cold Valley is created by the nature, it is among not high, flat ridges. From the small pass the beautiful view of the lake Markakol which western part is lost in the distance opens. In environs of the Cold Valley there lives an endemic toad who can be seen in boggy places. A lunch in way.
Return to the settlement , dinner and overnight.

Day 4. Lake Markakol - lake Karakol (Yazevoe) (137 km).

Breakfast. Transfer: the settlement of Urunkhayka (lake Markakol) - the bridge through the river Sorvenok (12 km).
A stop at the bridge, short walk in environs. From here Austrian Road which was built by the Soviet military builders at the end of the 60th, the beginning of the 70th years of last century begins.
Transfer: the river Sorvenok - the pass Altay 1792 meters high above sea level (7 km).
The stop on the pass, from the pass opens an impressive panorama of surrounding mountains and the Altay taiga. Walk in environs.
Transfer: pass Altay - first bridge through the river Karakoba (6 km).
The bridge through the river Karakoba the most picturesque place of our travel across Altay. The river Karakoba graceful, magnificent and transparent originates on slopes of Ridges Tarbagatai and Southern Altay and all the waters flow to the Republic of China.
A stop, short walk in the environs of the river.
Further transfer: the first bridge through the river Karakoba - Camp of fishermen on the river Karakoba (7 km).
After the first bridge on the river Karakoba we pass three more bridges through this beautiful river and in the picturesque place, on the right river bank where it does sharp turn to the right we will stop for lunch. Here often fishermen stop to catch a taimen and an iridescent grayling.
Walks in the environs of the river.
Transfer: Camp of fishermen of Karakoba - Top winter quarters - the pass Burkhat of 2141,9 m. a. s. l. (14 km).
After a lunch we will also go on the right side of the river Karakoba and we will soon overcome the ford through the left inflow of Karakoba – the river Tautekeli. From the river Tautekeli slow rise to the Top winter quarters begins. We pass winter quarters and the road begins rise on the stony road on the pass Burkhat.
A stop on the pass. It is one of unique panoramas of the Kazakhstan Altay, on the North the view of the valley of the river Bukhtarma opens, from the pass it is visible how the thin river Bukhtarma curls and flows on the West. Burkhat begins descent to the valley of the river Bukhtarma with the pass.
On the way from the pass Burkhat visit of the lake Burkhat-Kol which is in 600 meters from the road.
Transfer: pass Burkhat - settlement of Uryl (41 km).
The stop in the settlement of Uryl, visit of shops, will not be farther than shops on our way.
Transfer: Settlements of Uryl - of Berel - bridge through river Belaya Berel - settlement of Karaayryk (Yazovka) - lake Karakol (Yazevoe) (50 km).
Arrival on the lake Karakol (Yazevoye). Accommodation in guest houses or pitch up a tent tents, a dinner and overnight.

Day 5. Lake Karakol (Yazevoye). Visit to Yazovyi falls  (5 + 5 km).

Breakfast. The lake Karakol (Yazevoye) is a fascinating part of our route across the Kazakhstan Altai. The lake Karakol (Yazevoye) is in the picturesque valley located at the height of 1656 m. a. s. l. Lake length, from the North on the South 3 kilometers, width is 600 meters.
The lake rather warm during the summer period, it is possible to swim in the lake. In a clear weather from the coast of the lake the magnificent view on double tops of Mount Belukha of 4506 meters above sea level opens. Only one species of fish - an lives in the lake.
Day of rest on the lake Yazovy. Lunch.
Walks in environs of lake.
Walk on falls Yazovy (5 km). 
Return to the camp, dinner and overnight.

Day 6. Lake Karakol (Yazevoye). Walk on thrown sawmill which is in a northeast part of lake (5 + 5 = 10 km).

Breakfast. Color of water in the lake Yazevoe yellow and green, transparency of water to 4,2 meters. Color of water is influenced by silt and seaweed which filled the lake. Coast are formed by sand, pebble and boulders. The river Yazevoe about the North and several small anonymous rivers flows into the lake.
Follows from the lake - the river Yazevaya on which, in the 5th kilometers lower on a current, several waterfall cascades were formed.
Walk on the thrown sawmill which is in a northeast part of the lake (5 km).
Lunch. Here walks in vicinities.
Return to the lake Karakol (Yazevoe), dinner and overnight.

Day 7. Lake Karakol (Yazevoye) - environs * health resort Rakhmanovsky klyuchi (38 km).

Breakfast. Transfer: lake Karakol (Yazevoye) - settlement of Karaayryk (Yazovka) - bridge through river  Belaya Berel – river Belaya Berel - Usy batyra falls on river Arsan (34 km).
Walk on falls (600 + 600 = 1200 meters).
Further transfer: the Usy batyra falls - the lake Arasan (Small Rakhmanovskoye) (2 km).
Walk in the environs of the lake.
Transfer: the lake Arasan - health resort Rakhmanovsky klyuchi (2 km).
Arrival in Health resort, accommodation in the tent camp, lunch.
After a lunch walk on hiking footpaths and wooden cover by a southwest and northwest part of the lake (2 km).
Dinner and overnight.

Day 8. Tent camp - walk on pass Radostnyi (3 + 3 = 6 km).

Breakfast. Walk on the pass of Radostnyi 2306 meters high above sea level.
The pass is between two rivers Arasan and Black Berel. From the pass, it is far on the South, the picturesque panorama to Katun Range and Mount Belukha 4 506 meters high above sea level opens. Only 30 kilometers, separate us from the pass Radostnyi to Mount Belukha top now.
In good weather it is possible to see the highest part of Katun Range which was stretched in the width direction. From height of bird's flight in the southeast we will enjoy a view of Rakhmanovsky lake which was stretched from the northwest on the southeast in the valley of the river Arasan.
Return to tent camp, dinner and overnight.

Day 9. Tent camp - walk by boats on Rakhmanovsky falls (2 + 2 = 6 km).

Breakfast. Today on by boats we will make walk on the Rakhmanovsky lake on Rakhmanovsky falls which are in 2 kilometers on northeast side of the lake.
The falls have the poetic name of the Volosy of Veronika. Falls water falling height - 30 meters. We will climb to falls the right side of the river, a footpath which is laid between rocks and fir-trees. Extent of foot walk near (1 + 1 = 2 km). The falls are formed from an anonymous stream, the stream begins from three small thin lakes located the cascade at the height of 2265 m. a. s. l. A lunch in an arbor on the bank of the lake.
Return to Health resort dinner and overnight.

Day 10. Tent camp – Buktarminskoe lake (90 km).

Breakfast. Transfer: Tent camp on the health resort Rakhmanovsky klychi - settlements of Berel - of Arshaty - a stone Uytas (68 km). 
In this place to the left of the road there is the huge sizes a stone, it is necessary to notice that there is a lot of stones of slightly smaller size on right-bank side of the river Bukhtarma. The stone is known for a long time, its destiny is mysterious.
It is possible to assume that during strong earthquakes many stones of the different sizes rolled down from a northern slope of the ridge Southern Altai. From a distance the stone by the sizes reminds the big house therefore the Stone house received the name.
Soldiers of the local frontier post after the end of service developed to write a tradition on a stone the surnames and dates service life to armies, inscriptions put with paint of various flowers. Walk in environs.
Transfer: a stone Uytas - the Ust-Chindagatuy falls (15 km). Walk on falls (1 km).
Transfer: Ust-Chindagatuy falls - natural landmark Chindagatuy - lake Bukhtarminskoe (9 km).
Arrival on the lake, pitch up a tents, a dinner and overnight.

Day 11. Lake Bukhtarminskoe - Ust-Kamenogorsk (523 km).

Breakfast. Return to Ust-Kamenogorsk.
Transfer: Lake Bukhtarminskoe – settlements of Arshaty - of Uryl (78 km).
A stop in the settlement of Uryl, visit of shops.
Further transfer: settlements of Uryl - of Katon-Karagay (60 km).
A lunch in cafe.
Transfer: settlement of Katon-Karagay - the Bukhtarma bridge (206 km).
Transfer: The Bukhtarma bridge - Ust-Kamenogorsk (188 km).
Arrival in Ust-Kamenogorsk, end the trip. 

* The note:

The Rakhmanovskie Klyuchi sanatorium announced its closure and ceased accepting guests in June 2021. The reopening date for the sanatorium is unknown.
In addition to the sanatorium, accommodation is currently available (December 2025) at the only guesthouse, "Sunrise Rakhmani," which is already booked until August 2026.

Note:
Author program of Alexander Petrov. Copying and introduction -  from the sanction of the author.

Alexander Petrov
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